The Orioles continued with pitchers fielding practice today. Right-hander Kevin Gausman and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, the second and third top pitching prospects in the Orioles organization, threw their first bullpen sessions of the spring. The position players who have reported took batting practice afte PFPs were completed.

- Reliever Luis Ayala, who has yet to throw a bullpen session, said he has yet to decide whether he will pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. He told reporters he is expecting to make a decision tonight. Ayala’s winter ball season just ended last week because his Mexican league team won the Carribbean World Series.

- Left-hander Mark Hendrickson debuted his new sidearm delivery. Orioles manager Buck Showalter remains intrigued and was impressed and said his arm slot could actually continue to move lower.

- Outfielder Trayvon Robinson, who was designated for assignment on Friday, cleared waivers. He’s been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk and is expected to arrive in camp tomorrow.

- Non-roster invitee Zach Braddock, a left-handed reliever, is limited in drills because he’s still recovering from reconstructive labrum surgery to repair a slap tear in his throwing shoulder last July.

- Left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada, recovering from Tommy John surgery in May, is scheduled to throw off a flat mound on Feb. 25.

- Catcher Jose Gil, a non-roster invitee, has obtained his visa and is expected to arrive in camp tomorrow. That would make infielder Yamaico Navarro the only player on the 60-man spring roster absent from camp.

The American League East has long been considered one of baseball’s toughest divisions, and that should hold true again in 2013. But it’s no longer a division dominated by a couple high-spending teams and the occasional upstart. Suddenly, the AL East is being recognized for its top-to-bottom depth.

What did you expect after such an uplifting 2012 season? The Orioles clubhouse is full of players who think that they can go even farther into October this year if they can stay reasonably healthy for the duration.

The market was slow to open up, but baseball's hot stove season is now in full swing. See which notable players have changed teams this offseason, either in free agency or via trade. Note: Some contract details taken from various reports.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter will have a lot of issues to deal with over the course of spring training – which officially begins today – but he doesn’t seem the least bit worried about his starting rotation, even though he concedes that there are a few things he might have to worry about.